By Muslim Mirror News,
Guwahati, June 30: The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) will hold its 22nd International Convention on Education and Gala Award Program on Dec 28-29, 2013 in Guwahati in association with Markazul Ma’arif (a voluntary social-welfare NGO) and Ajmal Foundation.
Giving details about the program to the media, AFMI held a press conference here at the Guwahati Press Club on June 22. The press conference was addressed by key office bearers of AFMI–Dr. A. R. Nakadar-USA (AFMI Trustee), Mr. Ayub Khan-Canada (AFMI President) and Mr. Shaikh Mohammed Quraishi (AFMI Trustee, USA). Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi (Director of Markazul Ma’arif Education & Research Center, Mumbai), Mr. Khasrul Islam (Manager Ajmal Foundation) and Mr. Shamsul Haque Chaudhury (Vice President, Markazul Ma’arif,) also addressed the press and welcomed AFMI to Guwahati – the gateway city for seven northeastern states of India.
AFMI is a philanthropic, service based and issue-orientated organization formed by Muslim Americans of Indian origin in 1989. It strives to work towards the educational and economic upliftment of Indian Muslims by seeking cooperation among American and Indian relief and educational organizations.
AFMI strives to achieve 100% literacy among Indian Muslims. Towards this goal AFMI has built schools in many Indian villages and has adopted many schools, with students numbering in thousands. For motivation to excel in education AFMI has awarded over 2,000 gold, silver, bronze medals and certificates to meritorious students of X and XII of each state of India. It also provides scholarship to needy and deserving students. Towards the social empowerment AFMI has built hospitals, conducted medical camps, provided relief and rehabilitation either due to epidemics or due to man-made disasters or natural disasters.
For the last 22 years AFMI has been holding this gala award programs for Muslim toppers of X and XII standard board exams in various cities of India. The program has been so successful that it is now being replicated by several other organizations at various levels.
This is the first time that AFMI will hold its educational convention in Guwahati-Assam. Muslim toppers from each state will be honored at the convention and will receive the medals from prominent dignitaries.
In addition, the convention will also feature sessions on various aspects of education and these will be addressed by experts in the field. A special session will be dedicated on the challenges and prospects facing Muslim education in the North East. Another session will focus on educating the girl child.